Ewa Rembialkowska

HEALTH OF ANIMALS FROM ORGANIC PRODUCTION


Farm animals
Basing on several big studies comparing the health status of dairy cows from the organic versus conventional system (Hansson et al. 2000, Hardeng et al. 2001, Karwowska 1999) it is possible to conclude as follows:

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  Milk yield is significantly lower in the organic herds
  
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  Parasitic afflictions are more prevalent in organic herds
  
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  Cows and heifers from organic herds show significantly lower incidences of metabolic diseases: abscesses, arthritis, milk fever, ketosis, and liver diseases
  
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  There is no significant difference in the number of somatic cells between organic and conventional milk, but heavy mastitis is significantly less frequent in organic herds (in Northern and Central Europe)
  
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  Immune system of the organically reared cows functions better, what enables more efficient fight against diseases
  

Experimental animals
The impact of the organically and conventionally grown feed on important vital parameters in small animals has been investigated in several studies, reviewed by (Williams 2002). The studies compared the development rate, fertility and reproductive performance of the rats, mice, rabbits and hens.
Most of available data indicates that animals fed with organically grown feed show:

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  Better fertility indexes: greater no. of eggs, higher fertilisation rate, beneficial histological changes in females
  
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  Long-term fertility rate over three generations: higher pregnancy rates, more embryos, larger litters, lower prenatal mortality
  
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  Better health of newborn animals: greater weight gain, lower mortality of newborn, more young born alive
  

It can be thus concluded that organic feed may have beneficial effects on animal health, particularly with respect to reproduction and pregnancy outcome (Williams 2002). It is especially interesting that fertility and condition of animals fed organically increases over several generations. In the light of diminishing human fertility in civilized countries this fact can be of big importance.